Really trying to talk myself into a combo edge blade…

Some multi tools are aimed for smaller tasks and lighter mass, therefore they go for combo blade instead of 2 dedicated blades.

The blade on the multi tools is quite thin, easy to get damaged. Having the serrated part to cut harder things and save your plain section for more precise works.

Water hoes are usually reinforced with fibre glass, not great for plain blade. Composite plastic, not great.
 
I will say, if it is legal for your area... a dual edged OTF can have a serrated edge on one side and a plain edge on the other. Microtech does this sometimes. I found this to be the best version of a combo edge, because you essentially get two edges, one for more abrasive stuff, and one for fine cutting.
 
I have exactly one combo blade. Didn’t know if it would be useful until I started carrying/using it. For me, in some applications it works well. I carry it more than I thought I would.

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Shrub said:
2. Well, you can sharpen serrations. Some of them. Technically... Not the multi-pointed "I wish I was a hacksaw" looking ones Cold Steel uses, but most of them. The ones you can sharpen require a special sharpener and alot of attention. You have to sharpen each and every one of them individually. Like every serration was whole different blade. It ain't worth the effort.
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Sal Glesser's method of sharpening serrations works well, which is to use the triangular point of a sharpmaker rod to draw the knife downward at the same angle as the serrations are ground while drawing the knife backwards, just like you would a plain edge, and to occasionally de-burr the back side. This method sharpens all areas of the serration, instead of just the inside of the scallops, and is much less tedious than going at them individually.
 
Find a discontinued knife that you really want, but is only available in combo-edge anymore.
That's how I ended up with mine that have combo-edge blades.
 
I used to not be much of a fan but a few recent buys have changed my mind. I cut a LOT of heavy duty plastic strapping and cardboard. The serrations absolutely help to start the cut. A plain edge will skate and glide on the stuff trying to get started, but those serrations just grip and rip. I’ve tried both on the same material and it’s not even close.

Combo edges work well for when you need to flat out GSD and not waste time. That doesn’t mean I’m gonna go throw all my plain edges out the window. Just means that a couple combo edge folders now have a slot in my quiver.

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^That thing has a lot more wear on it now. I’ll post a recent pic tomorrow with the sun up.
 
I love combo edge. And, I love non serrated edge. They both have benefits. Some seem to “go” better with a knife of some type, to certain people. For me, a BM CQC7 must have a combo edge, but a 710 must never have one. Someone else might say the opposite or neither. Go figure what you want the knife for, then decide on the edge. Everyone is different.
 
If you need talked into it, maybe you shouldn't do it?

I won't tell you what to do or not do, to each their own, but my own personal take is that combo's do best at 3"+ with at least 2" of straight edge; ensuing enough straight edge to do straight edge stuff without the serrations getting in the way of those clean cuts, but still enough serrations to get a good bite when wanted/needed. You're essentially trying to fit 2 knives into one, so having enough real estate to accommodate both adequately is where it shines or fails IMO, and a 3" blade at 2:1 ratio is the absolute minimum I would even consider in a combo. 3.25" - 3.5"+ is more ideal. And I personally can't stand those little multitool blades split up into combo's. At that size it should be one or the other.

*(The only 2 combos I still own are a tanto blur at >3.25", and a S&W border guard at >4" that I keep in my truck as a spare).
 
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I have used a combo knife for trimming landscaping around the house. It is very useful when cutting something that a plain edge just works too hard to cut. Spyderco is to blame, they are the ones that got me into combo knives. Up until that time I only used a 3-blade stockman knife,

 
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My only combo edge -- Endura Wave. I call it my "old school" tactical.

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Well, lighting was shite but I took a picture anyway. The coating’s starting to wear off on the bevels, the back of the teeth are getting polished, clip and scales getting some dings. More wear she gets, better she looks.

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I expected to hate this knife with a passion and wound up loving it. It’s been in my pocket since I got it.
 
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